Can marine ich go away on it's own?

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I just got a wrasse a few days ago. It stays mostly in the rocks. Today while feeding I noticed a few white spots on him. No way can I catch him. Is it possible it will resolve on its own? Only one other fish in my tank and he's fine.
 

Tahoe61

10K Club member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 2, 2012
Messages
13,239
Reaction score
15,711
Location
AZ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Fish can develop a limited immunity over time, but that is not what you're most likely seeing. The parasite is visible on the fish for a short amount of time, the parasite then falls off the fish and continues it's life cycle in the substrate. Marine ich also resides in the gills of fish, so fish can be infected and you may not see the parasite. Once the fish experience a stressor the fish may become symptomatic again.
The white spot may have also been sand or something other than marine ich so keep an eye out and grab an images when able.
 

JerseyReefer

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 22, 2016
Messages
195
Reaction score
103
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I just got a wrasse a few days ago. It stays mostly in the rocks. Today while feeding I noticed a few white spots on him. No way can I catch him. Is it possible it will resolve on its own? Only one other fish in my tank and he's fine.

No. It may fall off only to reproduce and it will eventually get all your fish. If they are healthy they can fight it off but it will always be in your tank waiting for a stressor to take advantage and kill them. Look at the other Ich threads but you need to remove all fish for 76 days and treat the fish in an HT with copper.

I'm going through the process as I write this.
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Seems fish these days aren't as healthy as years ago or maybe I'm just having some really bad luck! Even if it is and I wait the 76 days any fish I add can be a problem. It wasn't this hard years ago.
 

melypr1985

totally addicted
View Badges
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
15,113
Reaction score
23,555
Location
Dallas area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Seems fish these days aren't as healthy as years ago or maybe I'm just having some really bad luck! Even if it is and I wait the 76 days any fish I add can be a problem. It wasn't this hard years ago.

Right, you would then need to QT any new fish before they join your display to be sure you don't introduce ich or something worse into the display.
 

leptang

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 7, 2014
Messages
532
Reaction score
242
Location
Portland, OR
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wrasses secrete a mucus around there body at night, which helps fight off parasites for what I understand. Hopefully your wrasse will get better.

Also I had Ich in my old reef tank but my fish did OK with a healthy immune system.
 
Last edited:
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wrasse seems OK today. Just found out my LFS will Quarantine fish for me for an additional fee. Might be worth it other than doing it myself? I have a 58 gallon tank so can't fit too many in there.
 

melypr1985

totally addicted
View Badges
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
15,113
Reaction score
23,555
Location
Dallas area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Wrasse seems OK today. Just found out my LFS will Quarantine fish for me for an additional fee. Might be worth it other than doing it myself? I have a 58 gallon tank so can't fit too many in there.

Never trust any QT but your own. That's my advice.
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Really? I'm sure he knows more than I do.
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok if I decide to do my own QT. I can use a plastic storage bin will I be able to use a hang on filter with that? I will need a heater and powerhead and ammonia alert. Is that it? Coppersafe. PVC. Am I missing anything here? How do I dose for preventive?
 

melypr1985

totally addicted
View Badges
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
15,113
Reaction score
23,555
Location
Dallas area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Really? I'm sure he knows more than I do.

Really. It's mainly because you just can't be sure if it's done properly, what meds they are using and what dosages, and then there's cross contamination. I work in a fish store and I can tell you that there is so much water movement and so many tanks to have your hands in, that it's next to impossible to stop aerosol transmission at a minimum and difficult to stop cross contamination between tanks. You can't trust anybody's QT but your own.
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
How long do they need to stay in there if I putting in new fish?
 

melypr1985

totally addicted
View Badges
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
15,113
Reaction score
23,555
Location
Dallas area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok if I decide to do my own QT. I can use a plastic storage bin will I be able to use a hang on filter with that? I will need a heater and powerhead and ammonia alert. Is that it? Coppersafe. PVC. Am I missing anything here? How do I dose for preventive?
Read these. They will explain in a lot more detail than I can type out quickly enough.
How to Quarantine
Copper
Medications to keep on hand
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You know I'm not sure yet. Might just be sand. It's just on her tail. Hard to see in a photo.
 

melypr1985

totally addicted
View Badges
Joined
May 4, 2014
Messages
15,113
Reaction score
23,555
Location
Dallas area
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
You know I'm not sure yet. Might just be sand. It's just on her tail. Hard to see in a photo.

If it's sand, it will be gone in a matter of hours. Ich will remain in the same spot for several days.
 
OP
OP
Cflip

Cflip

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Feb 20, 2017
Messages
653
Reaction score
196
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If it's sand, it will be gone in a matter of hours. Ich will remain in the same spot for several days.


I guess time will tell. I'll just have to wait and see. No way can I catch her and I only have one other fish in there.
 

TOP 10 Trending Threads

WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK FROM BUYING THAT ONE FISH OR CORAL YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED?

  • I need a bigger tank.

    Votes: 79 44.1%
  • I need a FOWLR tank.

    Votes: 11 6.1%
  • It isn't compatible with the current inhabitants in my tank.

    Votes: 32 17.9%
  • It is not in the budget right now.

    Votes: 61 34.1%
  • It is above my level of care experience.

    Votes: 25 14.0%
  • It is rare/not readily available to the public.

    Votes: 13 7.3%
  • Is is known to not do well in home reefs/it has a high mortality rate in home reefs.

    Votes: 9 5.0%
  • Other (please explain).

    Votes: 19 10.6%
Back
Top